Congregations & Fellowships
Advent
Ardmore
Bethabara
Bethania
Bethesda
Calvary
Christ
Christ the King
Clemmons
Community Fellowship
Cordero de Dios
Covenant
Crooked Oak
Enterprise
Fairview
First Moravian (GA)
First Moravian (NC)
Friedberg
Friedland
Fries Memorial
Fulp
Good Shepherd
Grace
Holly Springs
Home
Hope
Hopewell
Immanuel-New Eden
Kernersville
King
King of Kings
Konnoak Hills
Leaksville
Little Church on the Lane
Macedonia
Margate Fellowship
Mayodan
Messiah
Mizpah
Moravia
Morning Star Fell.
Mt. Bethel
New Beginnings
New Covenant Fell. (Palm Beach)
New Hope (FL)
New Hope (NC)
New Philadelphia
Oak Grove
Olivet
Palm Beach
Palmetto Fellowship
Peace
Pine Chapel
Prince of Peace
Providence
Raleigh
Rolling Hills
Rural Hall
Sarasota Fellowship
St. Philips
Suriname Fellowship
Tampa Fellowship
Trinity
Union Cross
Unity
Willow Hill

Congregations Moving in Mission

April 10-12, 2008
New Philadelphia Moravian Church

The Southern Province Intersynodal Conference begins Thursday, April 10 with afternoon registration/reception and ends Saturday, April 12 with New Philadelphia Moravian Church hosting the event.

In 2006 our Synod adopted a “mission Challenge 550” resolution, focusing us on outreach as a fundamental expression of our 550th anniversary. At our upcoming Conference, congregational representatives will work together to identify gifts (assets) within their congregation. Participants will also spend time working in groups comprised of people from several other congregations in order to:

• Share and celebrate successful outreach efforts
• Develop synergy for joint projects
• Identify unrecognized gifts
• Open ourselves to the opportunities around us at home and abroad

Lutheran author, Luther Snow, will facilitate discussions using an interactive process. He is the author of The Power of Asset Mapping: How Your Congregation Can Act on Its Gifts. He has a lot of experience in the technique of “asset mapping”, i.e. identifying gifts. A few congregations have used parts of his recommended process; he will answer questions and help us make better connections with each other. Worship will be led by Moravians.

Members of the Mission 550th Challenge Task Force will be joining the Intersynodal Conference Committee to assist in preparations for this event. Registration forms will be mailed to each congregation in January. Registration deadline is March 1.

The Planning Committee and PEC are encouraging every congregation to send seven laypeople in addition to pastor(s). Our goal and prayer is that individual congregations will be strengthened to “move in mission,” and we believe the Conference will enable individuals from all over the Province to connect with others sharing their mission outreach interests.

(submitted by Betsy Bombick)

Provincial Ties
Published monthly by:
Provincial Elders’ Conference, Southern Prov.
336-725-5811 336-723-1029 FAX
http://www.mcsp.org
Staff:
Wayne Burkette, President
Robert E. Hunter, Asst. To the President
Lynn Kale, Executive Asst.
Becky Honeycutt, Administrative Assistant

“Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.”

I Corinthians 10:24

Our prayers are with...

Deaths

Sister Gertrude Loppnow, wife of Bishop Milo Loppnow, passed away on December 11 in Watertown, Wisconsin.

Brother Bill Sibert, father of Will Sibert-Executive Director of the Board of World Mission, passed away on December 13 in Raleigh, NC.

We express our love and sympathy to his family and friends.

Illness

Sister Polly Applefield, Moravian Pastor

Sister Helen Byerly, mother of Moravian ministers Wayne Byerly (Bethania) and Tim Byerly (Mayodan)

Brother Hal Cole, Moravian Minister

Our prayers are with these.

Pastoral Changes

Sister Christy Clore has accepted the call to become Associate Pastor for Young Adult Ministry at Home Moravian Church in Winston-Salem, NC. She will be installed on January 13, 2008 with Bishop Wayne Burkette officiating.

Sister Tracy Pryor has accepted the call to become pastor of Covenant Moravian Church in Wilmington, NC. She will be installed by Kathy Sparks on January 20, 2008.

Congratulations!

Marriages

Brandi Flannery and John G. Rights-Pastor at New Philadelphia Moravian Church, were married on December 15. John is the son of Bishop Graham and Sybil Rights of Winston-Salem, NC.

Congratulations!

Ordination Anniversaries:
January

Congratulations and God Bless You!

International Friendship Program at Salem College

Would you like to participate in the new International Friendship Program at Salem College? Participants will be matched with Salem international students and will have the opportunity to assist in the student’s adjustment to life in the US while gaining a greater understanding of other countries, cultures, and customs. For more information contact Laura Hortal, International Student Services Coordinator, hortal@salem.edu, 336-917-5730.

(submitted by Amy Rio-Anderson, Chaplain)

The Provincial Elders’ Conference met on November 4 and 18, 2007. Burkette, Hunter, Hurt, Sapp, Sides and Sparks were present, and each meeting began with a time of sharing of contacts with pastors or congregations and discussion of specific joys and needs followed by intercessory prayers.

Matters related to Synod actions were discussed including the recommendations of the Anti-Racism Team and participation in anti-racism training events by PEC members and Provincial board directors in April, 2008. A final draft of the Moravian-Episcopal Dialogue document was discussed. Further action on the document will be considered pending a report on the document from the Interprovincial Faith and Order Commission.

PEC agreed to meet with the Commission on Ordained Ministry on February 7, 2008 to discuss various questions and concerns identified by the Commission as well as ideas under consideration by PEC. Bro. Steve Craver was appointed to chair the Music and Worship Commission to replace Bro. David Merritt who resigned due to other responsibilities. Lillian Shelton was appointed to a four-year term on the Board of Trustees of the Moravian Music Foundation.

Various needs and opportunities were discussed related to congregations and personnel in the Province. Call processes are underway at St. Philips, Grace, Calvary (Associate), Ardmore, New Hope (NC), Immanuel-New Eden, and Raleigh (Associate).

Sister Christy Clore accepted the call to serve as an Associate Pastor of Home Moravian Church. She will begin officially on January 1, 2008 and will be installed at Home on January 13.

Bro. Roger Kimball was appointed Interim Pastor for the Ardmore congregation.

PEC noted that 19 clergy biography forms are still outstanding. Pastors are urged to give priority to PEC’s instruction to update the forms in order for personnel records to be current and accurate.

Current candidates for ordained ministry and other matters related to candidacy were reviewed and discussed. PEC met with Bro. Mohamed and Sr. Safiatu Braima to hear about their mission work in Sierra Leone.

PEC continued review of feedback from small group discussions of the call system conducted at the Moravian Ministry Association Retreat in September, especially suggestions related to providing help in the discernment process for congregational boards and for pastors. The Guide for Elders and Trustees of Congregations involved in the process of calling a pastor was discussed and revised. PEC agreed to provide copies of this very helpful discernment tool to every Elder and Trustee at the Joint Board meeting which PEC convenes to initiate the call process in a local congregation.

PEC received comprehensive reports and updates on provincial ministry from the Board of Evangelism and Home Missions and from the Board of Christian Education and began an assessment of progress on PEC’s goals for the intersynodal period.

PEC received a special report from BEHM on Latino ministry in the Province and discussed its progress and challenges. There was also discussion of a question from a congregation relative to the frequency of meetings of the Congregation Council. PEC agreed that although the Book of Order does not prohibit more frequent meetings of a Congregation Council, our polity assumes only an annual meeting unless there is a special need or proposal to act upon. Elders and Trustees are responsible for “the management of the affairs of the congregation”. (BOO, p. 70)

Requests for assistance from the Aldridge Educators’ Fund were approved.

Various other matters were discussed and information shared concerning the life and ministry of the Southern Province. PEC reviewed correspondence and identified congregations due for triennial reviews in the spring of 2008. Burkette will represent the Moravian Church at the annual meeting of Christian Churches Together, January 8-11, in Baltimore, MD.

The PEC will meet twice in January for regular sessions, in addition to other meetings related to call processes, reviews and special meetings as needed.

(submitted by Wayne Burkette)

Leadership Focus 2008

Using Our Gifts in Ministry and Mission Today

Information about this event has been sent to Winston-Salem area church offices and committees with complete instructions about registration and workshop options. This event is the second annual leadership event with workshops designed for leaders and teachers, church board members, treasurers, musicians, mission representatives, and many more church leaders. Registration has begun so be sure to check it out and don’t miss out on this event! The deadline for registering is February 1, 2008 to Becky Honeycutt, 459 South Church Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101. Please note that in the registration brochure, there was an omission of the Intentional Men’s Ministry workshop led by Rick Sides. It is listed in the course description brochure. We will have this workshop and it will be done in the second workshop slot right after lunch. If you wish to register, simply write it in.

Information will be coming soon to churches about workshops near you:

Saturday, March 1, 2008
Prince of Peace Moravian Church
Miami, Florida

Saturday, May 10, 2008
Raleigh Moravian Church
Raleigh, North Carolina

Classified

Friedberg Moravian Church is currently seeking a full time Director of Youth Ministry. For more information please contact Jim Newsome at 336-764-1830 or jnewsome@friedbergmoravian.org.

UNITY OFFERING
March 2, 2008

Designated for
Construction of the Mbeya Girls’ Secondary School in the Tanzania
South-West Province

Unity Offering envelopes are available from the Mission Society Office in Winston-Salem. Call 336-773-1732 or email sbeaman@mcsp.org for additional information.

Invigorate

February 23, 2007
Friedberg Moravian Church
2- 7:30ish p.m.

Invigorate is a conference for Moravian middle and senior high youth groups on Saturday afternoon, February 23. There will be exciting workshops to choose from, worship, games, dinner and a concert by an up and coming Christian band – Me In Motion. Check them out at www.myspace.com/meinmotion. Some of the workshop choices will include: Why Believe in Christ? World Religions; Christ in Music; Bible 101: How the Bible Came to Be; How Does God Fit into Your Life? And more!

Cost for the event will be $10 per person. Registration, workshop options, etc. will be available in January through youth leaders or RYC reps. This conference has been planned by the Youth Commission and members of the Regional Youth Council.

(submitted by Brad Bennett)

From the Provincial Treasurer's Office

Hello from all of us in the Provincial Treasurer’s Office. We hope that you have a blessed and prosperous New Year. Please do not hesitate to call us if you have any accounting, payroll or insurance questions. Our main number is (336) 722-7922.

Accounting and Reporting Deadlines:
For those of you who may be a Church Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Board member, administrator, etc., please note the following deadlines/dates for 2008.

10th of every month – the payroll voucher and related check are due to Donna Hampton (336-531-0025) in the Treasurer’s Office. If the 10th falls on a Saturday or Sunday, then the payroll voucher and check are due on the previous Friday. Please, no exceptions!

Monthly – payment of Provincial Share amounts are due. Even if the full amount budgeted is not available, please remit something.

Quarterly – the invoice for property insurance (if applicable) is due and payable upon receipt. Please plan accordingly and send your check to the Treasurer’s Office, Attention Lois Crain (336-722-7922, ext. 1003). Similarly, the annual billing for workers compensation insurance (normally issued in the 4th quarter) is also due and payable upon receipt.

January 31 – if applicable, Form 1099’s are due to recipients.

February 28 – if applicable, Form 1099’s are due to the IRS.

May 15 – Church audits for 2007 are due in to the Treasurer’s Office. Instructions are normally issued in February.

September 11 – Provincial Stewardship Dinner at Friedland Moravian Church. The 2008 Church budget instructions are issued at this time.

December 15 – Church budgets for 2009 are due in to the Treasurer’s Office. Please plan accordingly. This is also the due date for employees to make changes to their Flex Plan or 403(b) plan elections for 2009.

New Treasurers and Trustee Chairs/Vice Chairs:
Please remember that as we enter a new year, Treasurers, but more often Trustee Chairs or Vice Chairs, change. While this information is included on the “Congregational Information” sheets sent in to the Provincial Office, please keep us (specifically Lynda Culler, lculler@mcsp.org) informed as well. We use our e-mail listings a lot and it is important to keep them as current as possible.

IRS Mileage Rate – The IRS has set the allowable business mileage reimbursement rate for 2008 at 50.5 cents per mile. The Provincial Financial Board has approved using the 50.5 cent reimbursement rate for Provincial Office and agency staff travel in 2008.

While the approved rate of 50.5 cents per mile can be used to reimburse our employees for miles driven while on church business, you should still be mindful that renting a car may be a more cost-effective alternative, especially on long trips. Even with gas prices where they are, the cost of renting is often cheaper than paying mileage for trips to or from Bethlehem, Florida, etc.

For moving or medical expense, the new rate for 2008 is 19 cents per mile. The rate for charitable purposes remains at 14 cents per mile.

(Submitted by Ted Leinbach, Provincial Treasurer)

Day of Prayer for Retired Ministers:

The last Sunday in January, which this year falls on January 27, has been designated as a day of prayer for retired ministers. This is an opportunity to recognize with gratitude the service our retired ministers and their spouses have given to the Church over the years.

Interprovincial Board of Communication has links to current news and events on their website: http://www.moravian.org/news/. Check it out!

Moravian Church in America, South
Provincial Elders’ Conference
459 South Church Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101

Address Correction Requested

For Your Calendar

Deadline for the February Issue of Provincial Ties is January 25